COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) DOF TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS DIFFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED UNDER SALT STRESS

DNA-binding with onefinger (DOF) transcription factorfamily has found to be playing important roles for seed germination,photosynthesis, plant development and stress responses in several plantspecies. Hence, this study aimed to characterize the DOF genes in common beanat the genome-scale level. The various bioinformatics tools were used and theresults were confirmed through bench-work studies. Expression levels ofputative PvDOF genes were analyzedusing publicly available RNA-seq data and the expression levels of fiveselected PvDOF genes were furtheranalyzed through qPCR in tolerant cv. ‘Yakutiye’ and sensitive cv. ‘Zulbiye’subjected to salt stress. As a result, 42 candidate PvDOF genes were defined. The length of PvDOF proteins ranged from181 (PvDOF-41) to 503 (PvDOF-35)amino acids (aa). pIs of PvDOFproteins were between 5.03 (PvDOF-21)and 8.92 (PvDOF-6) ranging fromacidic to alkaline, and the molecular weight of PvDOFs were between 21944.3 Da (PvDOF-14)and 54786.5 Da (PvDOF-35). While thehighest number of PvDOFs was found onchromosome 2 (eight genes), the lowest number of PvDOF genes was identified on chromosomes 4 and 7 (one gene). Twosegmentally duplicated gene couple were detected. A total of 21 PvDOF genes were targeted by miRNAs of20 plant species. According to the normalized RPKM (Read Per Kilobase Million)values which were obtained from the RNAseq analysis, PvDOF-6, 8, 9, 17, 27, 28, 30, 35 and 39 genes were found up- or down-regulated after salt stresstreatment in the leaf and root tissues of common bean. Additionally, the mostof the qPCR data were found to be consistent with the RNAseq data and the PvDOF17 gene was found as being the mostexpressional divergent gene between cv. ‘Zulbiye and cv. ‘Yakutiye’. Inconclusion, the results of this study might help understanding the biologicalroles of PvDOF TF family under saltstress and can be used for the improving of common bean throughbiotechnological approaches.